Gov't committed to improving quality of Tamil education - Subramaniam

The rapid development of Tamil schools throughout the country shows the commitment of the government in ensuring that the quality of education in such schools is at the highest level as well as to change the perception of the community on that education system, said MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

He said the support provided by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had enabled a more holistic development of the Tamil school education system and improved the delivery of quality education in such schools.

"In the past, the middle class ignored Tamil schools. They used to look down upon Tamil school education.

"Now, with the construction of more Tamil schools, especially in middle class residential areas, it will boost confidence and change the public perception on the quality of Tamil schools," he said at the ground- breaking ceremony for Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) Bandar Mahkota Cheras here today.

Also present at the ceremony were Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri S. K. Devamany.

Subramaniam said Tamil schools needed to focus on various areas, including reducing the level of dropouts among pupils, and called on all parties to cooperate to make Tamil schools the school of choice for parents.

Met by reporters after the event, Subramaniam announced that SJKT Mahkota Cheras was expected to be completed in the third quarter of next year to become the 99th Tamil school in Selangor and the 527th in Malaysia.

SJKT Bandar Mahkota Cheras was built to accommodate students from nearby areas who were forced to attend school in SJKT Kajang and SJKT Serdang, said Subramaniam, who is the Health Minister.

Built at an overall cost of RM21.08 million by the Education Ministry on a 6.2-acre site, the school will be able to accommodate between 800 and 900 pupils.

In 2012, Najib had announced that the government would building six new SJKT schools, namely SJKT Taman Keladi in Sungai Petani, SJKT Heawood in Sungai Siput, SJKT Taman Sentosa in Klang, SJKT Taman PJS1 in Petaling Jaya, SJKT Bandar Mahkota Cheras and SJKT Bandar Seri Alam in Johor.

-- BERNAMA